Tray for watch-chains



(No Model.)

Al LAWRENCE. TRAY FOR WATQH CHAINS.

Patented Nov. 1.9, 1895.

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UNITED STATESv PATENT OEEICE.

ALVIN LAVRENOE, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

yTRAY FOR WATCH-CHAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,970, dated November I9, 1895.

Application filed June 27, 1891. Serial No. 397,682. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ALVIN LAWRENCE, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Lowell, in the county. of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trays for Displaying Watch- Chains, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in trays for the display of Watch-chains; and the objects of my improvements are, iirst, to provide means for securing the chains in proper position for display, and, second, to prevent displacement in handling the tray. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective of the tray with two chains displayed. A portion of the yside of tray is broken away to show more clearly the construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the tray, drawn-to about half scale. The middle portion is broken out and the ends brought together to bring the drawing within the sheet. Fig. 3 is an underneath view of tray, drawn to a smaller scale, the central portion being broken'out and ends brought together, a portion of the bottom covering being also broken away to disclose the grooves and springs; Fig. 4, an enlarged crosssection of a portion of one side of the tray; Fig. 5, an enlarged top view of a portion of the tray, showing a modification of my tray.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The general form of tray is the same as those in common use.

A A are the sides.

B is the bottom of tray.

C C are grooves about one-fourth of an inch in depth and width extending across the bottom of tray and placed about three-quarters of an inch apart. c

D is a helical spring, there being one placed in each groove and'secured to the bottom of the tray at one end E.

F F are cords, one of which is attached to the vfree end of each spring N. The cord passes through the eyelet or hole G and has secured to it the hook H inside the tray.

K is a pin secured to bottom of tray over the groove and at the side of tray opposite to the eyelets Gr Gr G.

L is aplate covering the grooves and springs underneath the tray.

One end of a chain is caught over the hook H and the hook is then drawn back until the other end of the chain can be caught over the pin K, when by the action of the spring the chain is straightened out and secured in position, so that a tray full of chains thus held may be handled without disturbing the position of the chains, while any one of the chains may be removed without disturbing the other chains.

Fig. shows a cord F', attached to two hooks and passing through a ring attached to one spring, so that one spring may be utilized to secure two chains, the resilience of the spring in this case being sufficient to take up the slack of the cord caused by releasing one of the hooks from a chain.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States, is-

l. In a jewelers tray, the combination of the bottom piece, a spring beneath the same, the pin fixed at one side of such bottom piece, and a hook at the opposite side attached to said spring substantially as described.

2. In combination with a j ewelers chain tray, the retracting hooks H, H, operated by springs D, D, and the pins K, K, or their equivalents, the whole operating substantially as, and for the purpose described.

ALVIN LAWRENCE.

Witnesses NATHANIEL HILL, ABBOTT LAWRENCE. 

